Also, Council endorses finance plan for transportation, Bel-Red projects and awards contract for new sidewalks on Northup Way

Street parking on weekdays in much of the Surrey Downs neighborhood will be eliminated without a special residential permit, under an ordinance passed Tuesday by the City Council.

The new regulations seek to address the issue of spillover parking from downtown into Surrey Downs, located just south of Main Street. The new rules take effect on Feb. 19.

Currently, anyone can park in the neighborhood for two hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on weekdays. After Feb. 19, no day parking will be available in the area during the week unless you have a Zone 1 permit. You will not need a Zone 1 permit to park in the area at night or on weekends or holidays.

The new regulations, which will require 45 new signs at a cost of approximately $3,000, generally encompass the streets between 108th Avenue Southeast to the west and 112th Avenue Southeast to the east, and from Main Street to the north and Southeast Fourth Street to the south. A small section of 110th Avenue Southeast, south of Main Street, in Permit Zone 8, will also become a "No Parking" area on weekdays without the proper permit.

A Surrey Downs residential parking zone was first established in 1985 and has been extended twice to cover more streets. The arrangement in Surrey Downs is part of wider effort to address, through residential parking management when needed, the increasing impact of spillover parking on residential areas throughout Bellevue.

The 10-year plan for calls a variety of funding mechanisms to pay for the construction or expansion of five major arterials to improve access to the downtown and Bel-Red areas for transit, drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. The two areas have been targeted by the city for more intense development to meet the state's growth management requirements and reduce sprawl.

The financing plan also would pay for:

major enhancements to the city's computerized traffic light system to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion on key arterials at peak travel times;

a shuttle bus service for downtown; and

construction of new bicycle and pedestrian pathways.

Adoption of the long-term plan comes at a time when transportation has been identified as the top concern citywide. The city estimates the projects in total will cost an estimated $299 million.

Council members are expected to finalize elements of the plan in coming weeks, including the specific financing mechanisms to be used. However, it is expected a combination of existing and new revenue sources will be utilized, including property taxes, impact fees and funds generated from local improvement areas.

Feedback: Matt Terry, Department of Planning and Community Development Director, 425-452-6191 or mterry@bellevuewa.gov

Council awards contract for new sidewalks on Northup WayCity Council awarded a contract to build a new sidewalk on the north side of Northup Way, from 165th Avenue Northeast to 168th Avenue Northeast, along with a new crosswalk on Northup at 168th Avenue.

Riverton Contractors, one of 17 companies that submitted bids, won the contract with a low bid of $261,354. The project will test a new natural drainage technique that uses pervious concrete on a 640-foot section of the sidewalk. Pervious sidewalks allow water to pass through the surface and filter into the soil beneath. Construction is expected to begin in early March and last approximately two months.

The Northup Way sidewalk is primarily funded by the city's Neighborhood Enhancement Program, which allows residents to pick high-priority projects for construction in their neighborhoods.